Let's visit Universal Studios in Hollywood (well, it's near Hollywood), California! From now on I'll call it USH. This is from a batch circa May, 1979.
This first one is clearly from the Studio tour, though I am unsure if this is a set from an actual TV show or movie, or if it was just an example of what a typical set might look like. You know how decor can go out of style, and then eventually come back into style years later? That didn't happen with this decor.
Way up on the hillside is a sign to remind you where you are, while the "soundstage" below is actually part of the plaza where guests would catch a Glamour Tram for the exciting studio tour. I always enjoy the billboards for the latest hit movies, such as "The Wiz", "The Senator" (which, as far as I can tell, was actually released as "The Seduction of Joe Tynan") starring Alan Alda, and "Animal House" (which had been a surprise hit in 1978).
Here's the famous "Collapsing Bridge", which had been added to the tour in 1974. Your tram would slowly move out onto the bridge, and suddenly the whole thing would drop! It probably dropped two inches, but still. I could actually see them doing an updated, improved version of this concept, with more swaying and tilting (plus a minty aroma), and it would only cost 500 million dollars to build.
Nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh! It's hard to convey a sound effect via text, but by golly, I did it brilliantly. "The Six Million Dollar Man" (starring Lee Majors) had been a hit TV series for five glorious seasons. With astronaut Steve Austin's bionic legs, eye, and arm, he could run faster, jump higher, and eat more pizza rolls than a normal Joe. For a while, visitors to USH could get a sense of Steve Austin's powers by lifting this GMC van! Nun-nuh-nuh (etc)!
Most kids today don't know that in the 1970s, if you wanted to make a long-distance call, you needed a bigger phone. The bigger, the better! With the example in the Prop Plaza, you could call Leonid Brezhnev in Moscow and his voice would be as clear as a bell. "Hello, Lenny? I'm at USH!". The woman posing with her daughter (granddaughter ?) seems miffed that the two of them don't have the phone all to themselves. Maybe the young boy wants to say "hello" to Leonid too, did they ever think of that?
The "parting of the Red Sea" segment of the tram tour was added in 1973 to much acclaim. The "sea" is already magically parting! The effect was achieved through the use of a small mirror and two sparklers. MOVIE MAGIC. Say, what's going on across the sea?
Two boys, presumably actors, have wandered over to watch the miracle of the parting waters and to mock the guests (because the boys are little smart alecks!). It must have been quite fun to see the behind-the-scenes activities of a real operating studio and amusement park. That rectangular trailer has the words, "Death to the (illegible)..." spray-painted on the side, I'd hoped that it would ring a bell, movie-wise, but no such luck.
This is PART ONE, stay tuned for Part Two!
Major-
ReplyDeleteFrom the days when USH was not nearly as 'polished' as it eventually became. I kinda miss the tackiness (the first image being a perfect example) and the constant [let's just call it "exaggeration"] as a part of the spiel delivered by the hosts. Good times for sure.
Thanks, Major.
"Nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh!". I would say it was more of a "Cheen, cheen, cheen, cheen, cheen!" (Fading out toward the end, of course.) As brilliant as your "nuh, nuh" is, I believe my "cheen, cheen" is even more brillianterlier.
ReplyDeleteThey actually did a good job with that big phone (Hello, Lenny!). Somebody spent the money on someone with talent and manufacturing skills.
"The effect was achieved through the use of a small mirror and two sparklers." Don't forget the Chihuahua! The Chihuahua was an integral component of the "parting the Red Sea" effect! (The sparklers would be useless without the Chihuahua.)
As far as I can tell, the slogan on the wagon says, "Death to the Parmesan". Clearly, the two hooligans were part of the anti-cheese underground faction.
Thanks for the Glam Tram ride, Major.
Major, I'm pretty sure you have posted a similar photo of that soundstage living room set, in the past....m guess is, at least 5 years ago or more. That set was part of a walk through exhibit, through several sets. And it was located inside that building with "The Wiz" advertisement on it. The set would change over the years, but at this time, it was Jamie Sommers' (the Bionic Woman's) living room. I think prior to that, it was a set from "Ironside."
ReplyDeleteOn the other side of that set, was "The Bionic Testing Center," where not only would an audience member be chosen to lift a van (just like that one outside in Prop Plaza), but they would also have one of the hosts or hostesses jump over a very tall spiked fence. Oh, and I think they also chose someone in audience to run "fast" with rear screen projection behind them.
It's sad about the Collapsing Bridge. It was closed for years, and then they spent a ton of money to refurbish it, but it was only used for a short time after reopening it, and now it just sits there unused. I asked a host why they didn't use it after spending the time and money to refurbish it. They said it had to do with when the new lame "Kong" 3-D projection thing opened. It sits next to the bridge and they said that in order to go across the bridge and through "Kong" both, would require the tram to "loop back around" twice. My answer to that is, well.....then do it!
The other sad thing is that the "Parting of the Red Sea" attraction closed not that long ago, after being there for decades. I think it was just so they could build more offices or soundstages.
Thanks for the vintage Universal pics, Major. I have fond memories of visiting that specific year, as well as throughout the seventies and early eighties.
Major, I know you were going to be upset with me, if I couldn't find the other "Jamie Sommers' living room" pic from your older post. So don't be upset.....'cause here it is:
ReplyDeleteUniversal Studios Post With Jamie Sommers Living Room Set - 1978
You posted that in 2011, so I guess it was a lot longer than 5 years ago. But I still remembered it!
USH...when it was "Universal City" and a place to make movies...and not ride "rides"...unless you call a Glamour Tram a ride...and it certainly was a ride I enjoyed a lot. Are people just not that interested in how movies are made? or has the internet TRE'd the magic? In any case, I am enjoying the trip back in time and remember all of this very well. Jaime Sommers house seems to be "Jaime Sommers carriage house" inspired, but I've searched for some of these elements...and can't find them. I'm thinking that the big warehouse was the prop warehouse...and the trams drove through it...which again was awesome...you can see the sign "property department there"...and if memory serves me right...across from this warehouse was "Lucille Ball's dressing room", and over there was the "Jaime Sommers"/Bionic Man...et al...walk throughs...you got to this area after boarding the tram up on the top of the hill...and I remember on the bottom of the hill was Edith Heads office...also the designer of the Tour Guides costumes...which I also thought was pretty cool. From these areas at the bottom of the hill you continued on to the back lot...stages..etc. I remember Prop Plaza was a half way point before joining the tram again...and maybe that's where you saw Jaws/Twirling ice tunnel (that was GREAT) the Red Sea (which I remember the walls of the red sea had very cartoony painted fish behind the walls...but more like cheap wallpaper...as a 12 year old I thought "could you have tried?!) My snarkyness continues today. I miss this old experience of Universal, but the people demand more, and it looks like Universal has given it to them. All very cool, but I'm not sure it's for me. I'll take a falling bridge and a plastic shark please. Thanks Major!
ReplyDelete